There are people who say, well, women’s issues is an important issue, but it doesn’t rank up there with the Middle East or Iran’s nuclear threat or Afghanistan and Pakistan. I could not disagree more. I think women are key to our being able to resolve all of those difficult conflicts, as well as provide for a better future.

*which is not to undercut the seriousness of the situation or her remarks. I’m just welling up and all excited about her advocacy.

@rodriguez – It’s true. People (men) often don’t seem to grasp this. Women’s issues have impact for women and families, yes. But they have economic impact, they have environmental impact — how does anyone expect to get anything fixed in countries where half the population is rendered impotent?

I want to quote the entire speech. All of it. But I’ll constrain myself and just post this: “But mostly, let me just thank you for being here and for being in the positions that you are in and making a difference by setting an example and providing the role-modeling that is so necessary for not only girls and women to see, but for boys and men to understand there have to be changes in attitude, not just in policies and in law, in order for us to achieve the kind of equal rights and equal responsibilities that is our birthright.”

Also luv that she’s advocating for the UN to better deal with sexual violence as a weapon of war. I really wish I had been at this event and gotten to talk to everyone there!